Hannah Eaton is an artist and writer. She is the author of Naming Monsters, a graphic novel published by Myriad Editions and shortlisted for the First Graphic Novel Competition and the Ninth Art Prize. She has been a barmaid, a teacher, a support worker, one half of a comedy duo, a learning mentor, a carer for young people and a graphic novelist. She was born in London and lives in Brighton with a teenager and a black dog who, as far as she knows, is not a death omen.
Author photograph by Tiffany Kubani.
Interviews and Features
Win Wiacek's MUST READ Comics List of 2020 for Comics Review
‘What a year it’s been. I’m not talking about the other stuff. I can’t do anything about that. As usual, I’m waffling on about comics and 2020 has seen some absolute graphical wonders released: so much so that I’m about to do a thing I hate and list some.’
Win chose two Myriad books for his Must Read Comics from 2020 list: Blackwood by Hannah Eaton, The Wolf of Baghdad by Carol Isaacs. You can read his review of both books in full on Comics Review, and check out the rest of his Top Ten while you’re at it.
Thanks, Win!
Make It Then Tell Everybody with Hannah Eaton
“The only tool I have a fetish about is Edwardian style dippy-pen. When my Dad died, I found this old OXO cube tin, thinking it was going to be something really weird because one time I was looking through his stuff and I found my umbilical cord in a matchbox. Dried, obviously. Anyway, I found this little tin of nibs. He had a brief stint in the 60’s as a draftsman for hand-drawn adverts, and had a tin of these metal nibs. The funny thing is, they’re not very good quality. There were about 100 rusty, spiky little nibs and they’re amazing to draw with. The ink just sits in them really well and they have the most amazing line. I have about 10 left.” – Hannah Eaton
Dan Berry talks to Hannah Eaton, author of Naming Monsters and Blackwood about drawing tools, dreams, comedy careers and instilling terror through the mundane for his acclaimed podcast, Make It Then Tell Everybody. Listen again now and make sure to subscribe.
Best comics and graphic novels of 2020 with the Guardian
The Guardian chooses the best comics of 2020, with journalist James Smart picking Blackwood by Hannah Eaton and The Wolf of Baghdad by Carol Isaacs, both from the Myriad 2020 list.
Both books are available to buy now. Please support your local bookshop and buy from an independent.
October Newsletter from Turnaround
‘The art is highly detailed and evokes both time periods perfectly, showing a level of research and care that many reader will appreciate. It is also a style that lends itself to several different tones whether it be gritty murder, or the almost supernatural ambience the story takes at certain times. This is another strong showing from Hannah Eaton and perfect for Halloween reading. All fans of horror comics will want to give this a look.’
Hannah Eaton’s Blackwood is named Graphic Novel of the Month by Turnaround in their October newsletter.
The newsletter also featured A More Perfect Union by Tammye Huf, with a reminder to tune into Instagram as we share exclusive content from Tammye at 7.30 pm every night from 12 – 16 October.
Hannah Eaton and Hannah Berry on Brighton Book Club Podcast
Hannah Eaton: “How could England very quietly sneak in real authoritarian into government? You could do two things. You could deter people for no legal reason. You devolve power to legal councils so that corporations could run the prison system. We’ve got places like Jarls wood. We do detain people for no real reason. It’s not dystopian, its an altered reflection of what actually goes on.”
Listen again as Hannah Eaton and Comics Laureate Hannah Berry chat comics, nightmares and Alison Bechdel (as well as Hannah’s latest graphic novel, Blackwood) on Brighton Book Club Podcast.
This podcast was recorded in September 2020 before the publication of Blackwood.
Hannah Eaton on Books for Sussex Life
The book I’ve never finished
I hated A Little Life by Hanya Yanigahara so much I threw it in the recycling to take it out of circulation. I like a lurid, kitschy abuse melodrama as much as the next person, but I’ll stick with Flowers in the Attic, which has deadly doughnuts, a better villain and doesn’t demand tearful reverence.
The book that moved me most
Beloved by Toni Morrison. The adapted film is a soul-rending companion piece… the ghost-laying chorus of holy grandmas at the end. And Oprah as Sethe.
The book I’m reading now
I have four on the go: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo, Theodore Zeldin’s The Hidden Pleasures of Life, Rebecca West’s The Fountain Overflows and Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel. I read the last two every year because they’re like amazing panopticons, not only of their particular positions in history and place, but also in a way that reflects your own shifting interiority each time you revisit them.
Author of Blackwood and Naming Monsters, Hannah Eaton talks books with Sussex Life magazine. Read in full.
Panel Borders Podcast: Myriad Authors Hannah Eaton and Sabba Khan
On the latest Panel Borders podcast, Hannah Eaton discusses the folk horror and factual influences on her forthcoming graphic novel Blackwood. We also hear from architect and artist Sabba Khan, who relates how her culture, family history and background as an architect are combined in her new book, which we are set to publish in 2021. Listen again now.
Graphic Reportage at International Women's Day
Artists and graphic novelists Ottilie Hainsworth and Hannah Eaton became graphic reporters at this year’s International Women’s Day event at Brighton Dome, running from one event to the next to capture as many as possible in artistic glory. They set up in the Founder’s Room with a dedicated artist space, allowing for those attending to take part and draw/write answers to a variety of tailor-written questions regarding wants, wishes and worries surrounding womanhood, then showcased their sketches from each event on a selection of easels.
The day was a total hit and featured a wonderful array of supportive charities, organisations and advocates for women’s rights. Over 3000 people attended the event, The Feminist Bookshop had a huge pop-up shop and Myriad authors Ruth Figgest and Umi Sinha featured in an author talk on belonging. We were incredibly proud to be part of such a brilliant event and thank Brighton Women’s Centre for organising it.
Head over to our Facebook page to view an album of photographs and video’s taken of Hannah and Ottilie’s work.
Appearance on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour
In a feature for BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour on children and bereavement, Hannah was interviewed by presenter Jenni Murray. She talked about her role as learning mentor at a primary school and about her debut graphic novel, Naming Monsters.
Podcast on publishing and graphic medicine
Recorded as part of the 2013 Brighton Graphic Medicine conference, Hannah discusses graphic medicine with fellow graphic novelists Nye Wright (Things to do in a Retirement Home Trailer Park), Woodrow Phoenix (Rumble Strip) and Nicola Streeten (Billy, Me and You), alongside Myriad Creative Director and Graphics Editor, Corinne Pearlman.